The Nopia synth, which attracted a wave of attention after its first reveal in 2023, is now close to reaching customers. Its creators, Martin Grieco and Rocío Gal, recently showed an early version to MusicRadar and said the instrument is “basically finished.”
According to the report, the device should arrive in a couple of months and is expected to cost around £550. The project has been described by its makers as a “harmony machine,” reflecting its focus on chord-based performance rather than a conventional single-voice synth setup.
A different approach to performance
Nopia combines several functions into one instrument, including parts for keys, bass, arpeggios and pads. It centers on a one-octave Chord Builder keyboard, a 12-button Tonal Selector and an Extensions Dial that help define chord key and voicing, allowing players to trigger more complex harmonies with minimal finger work.
The synth also includes a strum plate for picking individual notes from a chord and a slider for bending the pitch of full chords. Beyond its virtual analog and sample-based synthesis engines, it offers effects such as delay, reverb, tape emulation and beat repeat, along with multiple connectivity options, including per-module MIDI output for controlling other instruments.
Source: theverge.com
